novelraw Chapter 64 : Chapter 64
Chapter 64 : Chapter 64
Chapter 64 - It Wasn't Just a Facade
“Ugh.”
“Ugh.”
Two swordsmen, who had been aiming their sword tips at each other, simultaneously coughed up blood.
It was quite a rare sight.
After all, a confrontation in the Jianghu usually ends with one side’s victory.
The two swordsmen, as if by agreement, were kneeling on one knee, clenching their teeth.
‘Well, the match has been decided, though…….’
Anyone who had seen the duel between the two swordsmen would know.
Who the victor was.
Uma’s sword had certainly reached Jeongmin, and Jeongmin’s had not.
It was indeed a ferociously savage sword.
So much so that if the sect leader in the heavens had seen Uma’s sword, he would have turned his head away, saying, ‘That is not the sword of our sect.’
Could this really be considered a victory for the Diancang Sect?
There were doubtful parts, but in any case, Uma had done it.
He had taken down the top master of the information syndicate that wielded considerable power in Yiliang County.
At that fact, Biyoung felt as much joy as if he himself had won.
‘Does that fellow know? The reason for his defeat.’
The gallant man’s gaze turned to the loser, who was clutching his chest.
In terms of skill alone, Jeongmin could be considered slightly superior.
His swordsmanship was cold and composed, and above all, he had internal energy cultivated over a long period.
If they fought ten times, Jeongmin would have won at least eight times.
But Jeongmin’s very composure had instead brought about disaster.
‘Dulling the tip of the sword is no different from a suicidal act.’
Switching to a war of attrition was a clever choice.
Everyone had expected that Uma would collapse on his own before long.
But there were two facts that Jeongmin had overlooked.
Uma’s anger upon confirming that the tip of his sword had dulled.
And Jeongmin’s own senses.
There is a world of difference between a sword swung to subdue an opponent and a sword swung with the purpose of tiring them out.
Even if Jeongmin himself did not pull back much of his strength, such complacency in a life-or-death fight between swordsmen leads to fatal results.
If he had countered Uma’s sword, which was reminiscent of spontaneous combustion, with force, Jeongmin might have instead been victorious.
But Jeongmin’s sword, thinking of a war of attrition, had allowed a blow in that irrational battle.
“Huuuk……!”
Uma, who had staggered to his feet, shouted as if squeezing it out.
“Next!”
“……Talking about next. In your state, you look like a living corpse.”
Biyoung clicked his tongue as if he was speechless and grabbed Uma’s shoulder.
However, Uma was still panting and shook his shoulder.
“I can still do it! I must kill all those bastards to sleep soundly tonight!”
Hmm.
Has his anger not subsided yet?
In fact, this kind of berserker-like appearance was a first for Biyoung to see as well.
Whether it was when fighting the Gam-i Gang in Simao, or when attacking the Tiger-Bear Stronghold.
He had never been cornered like this in other places.
What about when he fought with me?
At that time, he was sent flying with a single blow without even a moment to get angry, so it was much the same.
Perhaps this side of Uma was like a double-edged sword.
It created miracles that surpassed his own skills, but the backlash would be just as severe.
“Heuk, heuk.”
His still-unsettled breathing proved it.
At a glance, it seemed like it was because he was still angry, but he was unable to control his body properly.
‘There is one swordsmanship for this kind of personality, but…….’
It would be premature for that.
With that thought, Biyoung placed his palm on Uma’s back.
“Well, don’t even think about persuading me.……!”
“Stay still.”
“?”
From behind Uma’s back, a clear and cool energy began to rush in like a waterfall.
It was a flawlessly pure energy that made the internal energy circulating in his own body feel like dirty lye water.
‘This is……?!’
Uma intuitively realized that it was Biyoung’s internal energy.
How could such an energy circulate within a person’s body?
Originally, when another person’s internal energy mixes in, they are supposed to repel each other and shake the body, but.
In this case, it felt as if Biyoung’s internal energy was purifying Uma’s body.
“Swinging your sword in excitement is what third-rate fighters do. Don’t be swallowed by your anger, think about using it.”
Biyoung’s words were, unlike usual, clear and cheerful.
Just like the internal energy that had entered his body.
“Huu……”
After one injection of internal energy, Uma’s body became miraculously calm.
The slight trembling of his fingertips stopped, and his breathing was neatly organized as if nothing had happened.
The people of the Syndicate of Ten Thousand Eyes didn’t notice, but if there had been a master from a prestigious orthodox sect nearby, it would have been a scene to make their eyes roll back.
Because correcting distorted internal energy by infusing another person with one’s own energy was something impossible for anyone less than an elder-level master.
“Senior Brother. How are you feeling?”
“Good. Very good!”
Uma pounded his chest and gripped his sword firmly.
But before he could, Biyoung took a step forward.
“It’s meaningless for you to fight anymore, Senior Brother. It doesn’t seem like there’s anyone stronger than that Jeongmin fellow over there.”
“What’s with you wanting to take care of the small fry?”
“I’m a bit worried about leaving the two brothers behind. Let’s finish this up quickly and go.”
“Well. That’s not a bad idea.”
Uma, whose anger had subsided, did not make any particular comment on Biyoung’s words.
However, the swordsmen of the Syndicate of Ten Thousand Eyes who were watching this conversation felt their blood boil.
‘How dare that young brat……!’
‘Is he saying he will take on all of us by himself?’
Since it was a hastily gathered force, they couldn’t gather all the masters of the Syndicate of Ten Thousand Eyes.
However, all the swordsmen gathered in this place were elite masters called ‘Second Line Leaders’.
Although Jeongmin was the strongest among them, the difference was not great.
“I have one question.”
Biyoung, who had drawn his sword from his waist, looked around the crowd and spoke.
“Was it Lady Mihwa’s will to pursue us?”
“……It was not.”
Jin Seung, wearing a mask, hesitated for a moment and then spoke.
“The discipline of the Syndicate of Ten Thousand Eyes is utterly lax. You mean to say you tracked and tried to kill people without the chief’s order?”
“That’s none of your business.”
“Or…… you just didn’t want to see the agitated First Line Leader anymore?”
“…………!”
Above the mask, flames flickered in Jin Seung’s eyes.
The flicker was momentary, but Biyoung gave a meaningful look as if he knew it would happen.
“Lady Mihwa is indeed attractive. Enough to make you want to kill the one who shook her psychologically.”
“Shut up!”
Was it because he thought his inner thoughts had been exposed?
Jin Seung’s voice was filled with hot anger.
Swoooosh!
It lacked the coldness of Jeongmin’s sword, but it was just as fast and tyrannical.
‘Indeed. There was a reason Lady Mihwa kept this man close by.’
If he had been hit by this sword unexpectedly from under the desk, any decent master would have been flustered.
But unfortunately, the one he was facing was not just any master, but the ‘World’s Fastest Sword’.
Paang!
Jin Seung’s sword, swung diagonally from below, left an empty sound in the air.
His pupils, which had been flickering with anger, swayed like a pendulum.
Because Biyoung’s body, which he had expected to be split in two, had disappeared without a trace.
“Honestly……”
“?!”
The voice of the brat who had been mocking him came from behind.
“Kids these days don’t have an ounce of fundamentals, I tell you.”
Paaak!
Still in its sheath, Biyoung’s sword struck the crown of Jin Seung’s head.
“Even if the target is slightly off!”
Paaak!
“The way you panic!”
Paaaaak!
“Ugh!”
The crown of the head.
In other words, the head.
Jin Seung could not hold back a scream at Biyoung’s sword, which was persistently attacking the same spot.
‘That bastard…….’
Uma, watching the scene, nodded his head as if he finally understood.
The reason Biyoung usually didn’t draw his sword from its sheath was not because he was generous or considerate of his opponent.
It was simply because he wanted to vent his anger to his heart’s content by smashing the opponent’s head.
If he cut with the blade, it would be over in one blow, but if he hit with the sheath, he could hit as many times as he wanted!
“Wahahahahaha!”
A demon.
That bastard is a demon.
A seemingly possessed smile appeared on Biyoung’s lips as he smashed the head.
Uma had to tremble for a moment watching that scene.
On the other hand, Jin Seung, who was getting his head bashed, felt as if he had fallen into hell.
The shock was one thing, but the words Biyoung was saying were twisting his insides.
Why did that brat who hadn't even shed his baby fat keep mentioning fundamentals and ‘back in my day’?
“What are you doing! Move!”
The Second Line Leaders, who had been blankly watching the seemingly possessed swordsmanship… no, assault, all drew their swords and shot forward.
At a glance, it looked like he was beating him randomly, but Jin Seung was not a novice to be defeated by such a clumsy attack.
There was something in those ignorant-looking movements that he could not resist.
“Chahaaaaat!”
Four Second Line Leaders ran in a line, raising their blades.
Biyoung, who had been merrily smashing the head, looked at the approaching swordsmen and his eyes sparkled.
Sususususu…….
Biyoung’s footing changed subtly.
Instead of planting his entire foot on the ground, he moved his body using only the balls of his feet.
The movement was so smooth that it was like watching a single waterway.
As is usually the case, one cannot catch a waterway with one’s hands.
One can only guess the speed by watching the flower petals floating on the water.
Kwakwakwakwakwakwa!
The intensity of the flowing water grew stronger.
The waterway, which seemed like it could be resisted with the palm of one's hand, now seemed like it could not be withstood even by a large rock.
“!”
A large, irresistible waterway closed in on the Second Line Leader swordsmen.
‘Wh-what is this……!’
A form effective when dealing with multiple enemies in a single blow.
One of the celebrated ultimate techniques of the Diancang Sect, the Sun-Shooting Sword Art.
The stream of Flowing Water Shooting Leaf completely engulfed the swordsmen before them.
Kwaaaaaaaaaaa!
“Kuaaaaaaak!”
“Aaaak!”
A stream as large as a river.
It was an illusion created by the Flowing Water Shooting Leaf.
However, the enemies caught in the Flowing Water Shooting Leaf all soared into the air, spewing blood.
“!”
Uma’s jaw, who was watching this, dropped to the floor.
Flowing Water Shooting Leaf.
It was a sword art that was clearly of a different caliber from the Eagle Talon Twelve Swords, even at a glance.
Not only was the sword line brilliant, but its power was also on a different level.
Had it not annihilated the Second Line Leader swordsmen, whom Uma had struggled to defeat, in a single form!
“Wh-what is this.”
Uma, who rarely stuttered, could not speak properly.
The overwhelming presence shown by the Flowing Water Shooting Leaf, and the joy of seeing the essence of the Diancang Sect’s martial arts, made him waver once again.
“Flowing Water Shooting Leaf. It’s one of the Sun-Shooting Sword Art techniques.”
Biyoung chuckled as if it was nothing, but to those watching, it felt like they were appreciating the martial arts of another world.
“S-Sun-Shooting Sword Art. You mean to say there is still someone who can use it……!”
The shock was even greater for Jin Seung, who had heard the conversation with Lady Mihwa.
He was well aware of how lofty the reputation of the Diancang Sect had been in the past.
However, since it was a matter led by a young brat, he had dismissed it as a revival in name only.
Having witnessed the Sun-Shooting Sword Art before his eyes, Jin Seung had no choice but to admit it.
“It really…… wasn’t just a facade.”
With those words, Jin Seung fell sideways and lost consciousness.
He had been forcefully holding onto his already fading consciousness, but it seemed he had reached his limit.
“Hmm. What should I do with these insolent things.”
Biyoung smacked his lips as he looked at the Syndicate of Ten Thousand Eyes swordsmen lying in a group.
It was outrageous that they had targeted them, but since it wasn’t a direct order from Lady Mihwa, he couldn’t place all the blame on her.
Above all, there were still stories he needed to hear.
“First, let’s fleece them.”
“Mm.”
Fleece what?
If it had been another person from the Diancang Sect, they would have expressed doubt at this point.
However, the person next to Biyoung was Uma.
In this field (?), he was a person who knew what to do with a single hint.
“I’m an expert in this area.”
With Uma, who had rolled up his sleeves, Biyoung began to go through the belongings of the Syndicate of Ten Thousand Eyes swordsmen.